Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The Last 5 Years Announced for LondonOne of my absolute favorite shows of the last five years was, in fact, The Last 5 Years. The exquisite two-handed tuner, expertly told backwards and forwards over the course of a five year romantic relationship, will have its British premiere at London's Menier Chocolate Factory on July 25. The same theatre company also spawned the successful, lauded production of Sunday In The Park With George that recently transferred to the West End. Indeed Sunday's acclaimed set designer David Farley will handle the same responsibilities for The Last 5 Years.

Jason Robert Brown's beautifully written The Last 5 Years was my second favorite theatrical experience during the 2002-03 season. The musical was originally staged in Chicago in 2001 with Norbert Leo Butz. He moved with the show to Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre where his womanizing literary-minded Jamie was paired with Sherie René Scott's heartwrenching portrayal of fledgling actress Cathy. Butz and Scott, of course, went on to create the hysterically funny Broadway roles of Freddy Benson and Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Matthew White will helm the London production of The Last 5 Years. The production will star Damian Humbley (formerly of The Woman In White)and Laura Pulver (who played Frenchie in the West End production of Grease) as the couple falling in and out of love. I just hope that this team will light the necessary sparks to make The Last 5 Years as moving of an experience for British audiences as it was for Americans lucky to have seen this little gem.

Broadway's 2010-11 Theatrical Season

About Me

As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!